scholarly journals Patient Safety in a Box: Implementation and Evaluation of the Emergency Box in Geriatric and Parkinson Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (23) ◽  
pp. 5618
Author(s):  
Lea Krey ◽  
Pia Lange ◽  
Anh Thu Tran ◽  
Stephan Greten ◽  
Günter U. Höglinger ◽  
...  

In an industrial society, the proportion of geriatric people increases with rising age. These people are likely to use polypharmacy and experience medical emergencies. However, their emergency care can be complicated by unclear comorbidities and medication. The aim of this prospective interventional study was to assess the demand for a drug safety tool in clinical practice and to analyze whether the emergency box can improve acute care in a geriatric cohort. Therefore, emergency room (ER) doctors in a German tertiary hospital recorded the number of geriatric patients lacking medical information and its impact on diagnostics/treatment. Furthermore, the emergency box was distributed to patients on the neurological ward and their current drug safety concepts were assessed. After 6 months, we evaluated in a follow-up whether the tool was helpful in emergency cases. Our study revealed that 27.4% (n = 28) of the patients came to the ER without their medical information, which caused a relevant delay or possible severe complications in 11.8% (n = 12). The emergency box was perceived as easily manageable and 87.9% (n = 109) of the participants wanted to keep it after the study. Subjectively, participants benefitted in emergencies. In conclusion, the emergency box is a cheap tool that is easy to use. It can save valuable time in emergencies and increases the safety of geriatric patients.

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Berhanetsehay Teklewold ◽  
Tilahun Deresse ◽  
Goytom Kinfe ◽  
Henok Teshome

BACKGROUND: Morbidity and mortality conference has both educational and quality improvement purposes. However clear evidences for the effectiveness of the morbidity and mortality conferences in improving patient safety is lacking.METHODS: A facility based cross sectional study was conducted at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to assess participants’ opinion on benefits and functioning of morbidity and mortality conferences. Univariate analysis was used to determine the influence of professional type on participants’ opinion about the morbidity and mortality conferences.RESULT: A total of 98 participants completed the survey. The majority of the participants agreed that there was a structured system of case identification (67.3%), meeting format (72.4%), the conferences were conducted every month (79.6%), it is blame free (71.4%) and system of care was focus of discussion (70%). Most (88.8%) participants agreed that the conferences were important for improvement of patient safety and quality of care, whereas 67.3% of the participants believed that there is no written term of reference and prior dissemination of agendas. Only 40% agreed that there is multidisciplinary team involvement. Fifty one percent of them disagreed that there is a follow up on the implementation of the forwarded recommendations.CONCLUSION: Even though the majority of the participants were satisfied with the mortality and morbidity conferences, most disagreed on the presence of written term of reference, earlier dissemination of agendas, multidisciplinary team involvement and follow up on the implementation of the forwarded recommendations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 200-209
Author(s):  
Rachel Rui Qi Tan ◽  
Hui Jin Toh ◽  
Philip Lin Kiat Yap ◽  
Nana Jiao ◽  
Wenru Wang

The objective of the study is to examine the 90-day readmission rate and identify the predictors for 90-day readmissions at a geriatric ward in a tertiary hospital in Singapore. A secondary analysis of case–control data was performed. Data of patients discharged from a geriatric ward between January 2015 and January 2016 were retrieved from an existing data set. Out of 564 index admissions involving older adults, the 90-day geriatric readmission rate was 10.1%. Activities of daily living dependency (odds ratio [OR]: 0.988, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.978, 0.999]) and living with the spouse (OR: 2.988, 95% CI: [1.388, 6.432]) were identified as significant predictors of 90-day geriatric readmissions. The study suggests that rehabilitation to restore the geriatric patient’s ability to perform daily activities and adequate caregiver training for the spouse are essential in reducing geriatric readmissions. Also, postdischarge follow-up with both the patient and caregiver can greatly reduce the risk of readmission in geriatric patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-186
Author(s):  
Madeline A. VanDaele ◽  
Jordan O. Smith ◽  
Jessica Bovio Franck

Abstract Introduction TCAs and paroxetine, a SSRI, are associated with safety risks in geriatric patients because of anticholinergic properties. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the impact of a clinical decision-support tool (CDST) on adherence with medication prescribing and practice guidance to enhance patient safety. Methods Mental health clinical pharmacy specialists and clinical pharmacy leadership led a multidisciplinary creation and integration of a CDST within a Veterans Health Administration EHR. The CDST focused on the following elements when prescribing TCAs and paroxetine in geriatric patients: clinical justification for initiation of the medication, provision of patient/caregiver education specific to the medication prescribed, evaluation of comprehension of education provided, medication reconciliation, and follow-up completed within 30 days of medication initiation. Following activation of the CDST in the EHR, measures were evaluated before intervention and after intervention. Results After intervention, an increase was observed in the primary outcome of the proportion of patients having documentation of all of the following: clinical justification for medication initiation, provision of patient/caregiver education, evaluation of comprehension of education provided, medication reconciliation, and follow-up completed within 30 days of medication initiation (P = .01). Individual proportions of patients with documented medication reconciliation and follow-up completed within 30 days significantly increased. All other secondary outcomes numerically increased but did not reach statistical significance. Discussion Improvement was seen in adherence with prescribing and practice guidance following the implementation of the CDST. This suggests the beneficial role of CDSTs within the EHR to optimize patient safety.


1967 ◽  
Vol 06 (01) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
P. Hall ◽  
Ch. Mellner ◽  
T. Danielsson

A system for medical information has been developed. The system is a general and flexible one which without reprogramming or new programs can accept any alphabetic and/or numeric information. Coded concepts and natural language can be read, stored, decoded and written out. Medical records or parts of records (diagnosis, operations, therapy, laboratory tests, symptoms etc.) can be retrieved and selected. The system can process simple statistics but even make linear pattern recognition analysis.The system described has been used for in-patients, outpatients and individuals in health examinations.The use of computers in hospitals, health examinations or health care systems is a problem of storing information in a general and flexible form. This problem has been solved, and now it is possible to add new routines like booking and follow-up-systems.


Rheumatology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 60 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fajer A Altamimi ◽  
Una Martin

Abstract Background/Aims  Telemedicine can be broadly defined as the use of telecommunication technologies to provide medical information and services. It can be audio, visual, or text. Its use has increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure patient and healthcare worker safety. Any healthcare professional can engage with it. It carries benefits like reduced stress and expense of traveling, maintenance of social distancing, and reduced risk of infection. There are some potential drawbacks such as lack of physical examination, liability and technological issues. Methods  A questionnaire was sent to 200 patients, selected from different virtual clinics (new and review, doctor and ANP led) run between March and May 2020 in the rheumatology department of University Hospital Waterford. We formulated 14 questions to cover the following aspects: demography, the purpose of the consult, punctuality, feedback, medico-legal concerns, and free text for comments. A self-addressed return envelope was included. Results  83 responses were received. 2 were excluded. The ratio of females to male respondents was 59: 41, with the majority over 60 years old. The main appointment type was review 67 (83%). 80% of patients were called either before or at the time of their scheduled appointment. The vast majority (98.8%) of our patients had confidence in our data protection and trusted our system to maintain their confidentiality. 95% stated that they felt comfortable, were given enough time to explain their health problem and felt free from stress. The respondents who preferred attending the clinic in person (17 in total) compared to the virtual were mostly follow up patients- 12 vs. 5 new. Conclusion  Patient satisfaction among those surveyed was high, despite having to introduce the service abruptly during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many improvements we can adopt to improve our service and even maintain after the pandemic as a way of communicating with our stable patients. As we are covering a large geographical catchment, we can continue to implement the virtual clinic for some appointments. We should prioritize our efforts on identifying the right patient and the type of service we can offer, further training of staff, and increasing awareness of the patients as to how to get the most out of a virtual appointment. Disclosure  F.A. Altamimi: None. U. Martin: None. C. Sheehy: None.


2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212110206
Author(s):  
Pablo Felipe Rodrigues ◽  
Bernardo Kaplan Moscovici ◽  
Guilherme Ferrara ◽  
Luciano Lamazales ◽  
Marcela Mara Silva Freitas ◽  
...  

Objective: Evaluation of central corneal densitometry changes following Ferrara corneal ring segment implantation in patients with keratoconus, especially the correlation between corneal densitometry and keratometry. Methods: Retrospective, non-comparative, interventional study based on the review of medical records of patients diagnosed with keratoconus who underwent Ferrara corneal ring segment implantation. Pre and post-operative corneal densitometry measurements obtained with Pentacam HR (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) were analyzed. The follow-up time was 3 months, and data comparison was made, using specific statistical analysis, with the data of 3 months postoperatively. Results: The study sample consisted of 43 eyes of 36 patients. The mean corrected visual acuity improved from 0.82 LogMAR preoperatively (SD ± 0.33) to 0.19 LogMAR (SD ± 0.13) postoperatively. The mean spherical equivalent varied from −4.63 (SD ± 3.94) preoperatively to −2.16 (SD ± 2.63) postoperatively. Asphericity varied from −0.69 (SD ± 0.32) preoperatively to −0.27 (SD ± 0.31) postoperatively. The mean maximum K was 54.01D (SD ± 3.38) preoperatively and 51.50D (SD ± 2.90) postoperatively. The mean anterior densitometric value was 18.26 (SD ± 2.03) preoperatively and 17.66 (SD ± 1.84) postoperatively. Conclusion: Corneal densitometry is an interesting technology that should be studied in keratoconus patients. Our results suggest that the corneal densitometry in the cornea’s anterior layer reduces after ICRS implantation and correlates with corneal keratometry. Further studies should be performed to increase the knowledge in this field.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 146045822199640
Author(s):  
Faranak Kazemi Majd ◽  
Vahideh Zarea Gavgani ◽  
Ali Golmohammadi ◽  
Ali Jafari-Khounigh

In order to understand if a physician prescribed medical information changes, the number of hospital readmission, and death among the heart failure patients. A 12-month randomized controlled trial was conducted (December 2013–2014). Totally, 120 patients were randomly allocated into two groups of intervention ( n = 60) and control ( n = 60). Accordingly, the control group was given the routine oral information by the nurse or physician, and the intervention group received the Information Prescription (IP) prescribed by the physician as well as the routine oral information. The data was collected via telephone interviews with the follow-up intervals of 6 and 12 months, and also for 1 year after the discharge. The patients with the median age of (IQR) 69.5 years old (19.8) death upon adjusting a Cox survival model, [RR = 0.67, 95%CI: 0.46–0.97]. Few patients died during 1 year in the intervention group compared to the controls (7 vs 15) [RR = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.20–1.06]. During a period of 6-month follow-up there was not statistically significant on death and readmission between two groups. Physician prescribed information was clinically and statistically effective on the reduction of death and hospital readmission rates among the HF patients in long term follow-up.


2020 ◽  
pp. 112070002096964
Author(s):  
Kirill Gromov ◽  
Nanna H Sillesen ◽  
Thomas Kallemose ◽  
Henrik Husted ◽  
Henrik Malchau ◽  
...  

Background: Introduction of new implants should be monitored closely to capture any signs of compromising patient safety. Vitamin E infused highly-crosslinked polyethylene liners (VEPE) offer the potential for reduced wear. Highwall liners have been hypothesised to result in increased wear and potential liner fractures. The aim of this study was to determine the 3–7-year follow-up of highwall VEPE for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), focusing on liner-related complications. Methods: We included 1221 consecutive THA operations from July 2010 to May 2014 with minimum follow-up of 3 (3.1–6.8) years Data collected included demographics, implant data, complications, reoperations, and deaths. Data were cross-referenced with the Danish Hip Arthroplasty Registry in order to ensure validity and completeness. Acetabular shell position was measured using Martell Hip Analysis Suite in a subgroup of 931 THAs. Results: Cumulative stem revision and shell revision at 3-year follow-up was 3.4% and 0.4% respectively. There were no revisions due to liner failure. Reason for revision included 11 dislocations, 15 soft-tissue revisions for infection, 44 stem revisions of which 34 were periprosthetic fractures and 13 shell revisions of which 6 were combined shell and stem revisions. Conclusion: Early follow-up of VEPE liners for primary THA have not shown any revisions associated with liner failure. Continued monitoring of new materials are necessary to capture any signs of compromised patient safety.


2020 ◽  
pp. 112067212097604
Author(s):  
Reem R Al Huthail ◽  
Yasser H Al-Faky

Objective: To evaluate the effect of chronicity on the size of the ostium after external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) with intubation. Methods: Design: A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent external DCR with intubation over 10 years from January 2003 at a tertiary hospital. All patients were recruited and examined with rigid nasal endoscope. Results: A total number of 66 (85 eyes) patients were included. The mean age at the time of evaluation was 53.1 years with gender distribution of 54 females (81.8 %). The mean duration ±SD between the date of surgery and the date of evaluation was 33.2 ± 33.6 (6–118 months). Our study showed an overall anatomical and functional success of 98.8% and 95.3%, respectively. The mean size of the ostium (±SD) was 23.0 (±15.7) mm2 (ranging from 1 to 80.4 mm2). The size of the ostium was not a significant factor for failure ( p = 0.907). No statistically significant correlation was found between the long-term duration after surgery and the size of the ostium ( R: 0.025, p = 0.157). Conclusions: Nasal endoscopy after DCR is valuable in evaluating the ostium with no observed potential correlation between the long-term follow-up after surgery and the size of the ostium.


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